The Mississippi State Personnel Board is excited to announce that nominations are open for the 2026-2027 cohort of the Mississippi LEAD (Leadership Excellence And Development) program.
Since its launch in early 2024, the Mississippi LEAD program has continued to grow with its third cohort set to begin in January 2026. The inaugural cohort will complete the program this December. Designed specifically for the demanding schedules of executive leaders, this two-year program combines monthly webinars with quarterly in-person meetings. To date, approximately 60 executive leaders have participated in the program.
Participants explore leadership topics such as accountability, change management, and problem solving, while quarterly events focus on issues specific to Mississippi state government, including the legislative process, legal updates, and understanding appropriations bills. To participate in the Mississippi LEAD program, participants must:
- Be an employee of a Mississippi state government agency
- Be in one of our Top 3 pay grades of each pay plan:
- Mississippi General Pay Plan - Grades 18, 19, 20
- IT Pay Plan - Grades 10, 11, 12
- Medical Pay Plan - Grades 9, 10, 11
- Be willing to commit to the two-year commitment to finish the course
- Agree to complete all course requirements entirely and on time
- Be nominated by his or her agency head
- Complete the nomination form stating why he or she should be considered for this program
Nominations must be submitted by November 14 to qualify for the 2026-2027 cohort that starts in January 2026. Individuals selected to participate will be notified in December.
To access the nomination form, learn more about the program, or view details about our current participants, visit the Mississippi LEAD page on our website.